Container and applicator unit

ABSTRACT

A container and applicator unit, in particular test unit, comprises a container for a cosmetic. An applicator top is placed thereon, having an applicator that stands out from the top in a principal sense of extension. The applicator, at least by sections, is rotationally symmetrical or plurally symmetrical in relation to an axis of symmetry that is parallel to the principal sense of extension. At least one passage, which, at least by sections, is decentralized from the axis of symmetry of the applicator, leads from the container to the applicator. The result is a container and applicator unit by which to enable a cosmetic to be spread uniformly on the surface of application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a container and applicator unit, inparticular test unit, comprising a container for a cosmetic; anapplicator top that is placed on the container, having an applicatorwhich stands out therefrom in a principal sense of extension and which,at least by sections, is rotationally or plurally symmetrical inrelation to an axis of symmetry and a center line, respectively, that isparallel to the principal sense of extension; and at least one passagethat leads from the container to the applicator.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] Units of the generic type for applying mascara to eyebrows ornail enamel to finger nails are familiar in the cosmetic field, whichthe following makes reference to by way of example. Nail enamel unitsregularly comprise a bottle made of glass, on which to screw a cap witha brush or some other bunch of fibers as an applicator. Mascara unitsalso comprise a container for liquid mascara, with a screw-on cap havinga stem with a brush of a plurality of bristles that are held betweenintertwisted wire segments. Numerous further designs of containers andapplicators have been known, for instance applicators in the form offoam molded parts.

[0005] Regarding the uniformity of application behavior by way ofavailable applicator spreading surfaces, container and applicator unitsof the species still are in need of improvement, in particular in thelight of an ever increasing demand of the market for smaller and/ortesting sets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the invention to further develop a containerand applicator unit of the type mentioned at the outset for as uniforman application as possible of a cosmetic.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is attained in acontainer and applicator unit wherein an at least one passage isdecentralized, at least by sections, in relation to the axis of symmetryand center line, respectively, of the applicator.

[0008] The at least one decentralized passage, which may be provided inaddition to a central passage, enables even decentralized areas of theapplicator to be charged with the cosmetic so that, on the whole, agreater applicator spreading surface is available for uniformapplication of the cosmetic. The number of passages, their grouping andcross-sectional design can be embodied in accordance with the shape ofthe applicator.

[0009] Preferably, provision is made for a plurality of passages side byside in a row. This aids in large-surface charging of the applicatorwith a cosmetic, which again improves the uniformity of application.

[0010] The applicator may further consist of comparatively softmaterial, such as rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, of a respective Shorehardness A of 5 to 100; PU/PE foam material of a pore count ofapproximately 40 to 100 ppi; or rubber, TPE or PVC, with artificialsilk, rayon or polyamide flock coating. These materials have proved wellsuited for uniform spreading.

[0011] The at least one passage may be a supply line that discharges bythe applicator's side, projects beyond the applicator top and terminatesin particular in the vicinity of the front end of the applicator. Apassage of this type enables an area, turned towards the surface ofapplication, of the applicator to be charged with a cosmetic. In thisway, any cosmetic, consumed by the applicator for spreading, can bereplaced promptly so that there is no interruption in the applicationprocess.

[0012] The end of the at least one passage may have an outlet that isskewed towards the applicator. In this way, the at least one passage ismoved as closely as possible towards the applicator for it to beoptimally charged with a cosmetic.

[0013] The at least one passage can also discharge into the tubularinterior of the applicator top by a tip of in particular skewed design,with an initially central passage, which proceeds from the applicatortop, then branching into a plurality of at least in part decentralizedpassages and mouthing into a plurality of decentralized outlets. Theskewed tip of the applicator is of special assistance in applicationtechniques in which the applicator is placed at an angle on the surfaceof application. The plurality of decentralized passages work in favor ofcharging the applicator uniformly with a cosmetic.

[0014] The outlets may be covered by thin membranes of plastic orsealing material, for example hot-melt adhesive, which are removablewhen the unit is put to use, in particular by peeling, cutting or thelike. In this embodiment, the applicator top can be designed as a closedunit prior to first use.

[0015] Preferably, the applicator further comprises a plurality ofhollow fibers which serve as passages, having a plurality ofdecentralized outlets. This kind of design of the applicator also aidsin uniform cosmetic dispensing. Further, a central passage can open intoa distribution passage with a plurality of outlets for a brush-typeapplicator. The distribution passage, which is the decentralized passagein this embodiment, enables the brush-type applicator to be chargeduniformly with a cosmetic.

[0016] The outlets may be enveloped in the shape of a U by the core ofan applicator brush. A design of this type is suitable in particularupon use of the container and applicator unit as a mascara unit.

[0017] In keeping with another embodiment, the applicator may comprise aplurality of individual fibers, at least the free ends of which aretreated or coated with an antiadhesive layer, for example Teflon (PTFE).This prevents clotting of the applicator.

[0018] Details of the invention will become apparent from the ensuingdescription of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with thedrawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0019]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the applicator side of an applicator topof a cosmetic or medical container and applicator unit;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a section on the line II-II of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a section on the line III-III of FIG. 1;

[0022]FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, of another container andapplicator unit;

[0023]FIG. 5 is a section on the line V-V of FIG. 4,

[0024]FIG. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of FIG. 4;

[0025]FIG. 7 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, of another container andapplicator unit;

[0026]FIG. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 9;

[0027]FIG. 9 is a section on the line IX-IX of FIG. 7;

[0028]FIG. 10 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, of another container andapplicator unit;

[0029]FIG. 11 is a section on the line XI-XI of FIG. 12;

[0030]FIG. 12 is a section on the line XII-XII of FIG. 10;

[0031]FIG. 13 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, of another container andapplicator unit;

[0032]FIG. 14 is a section on the line XIV-XIV of FIG. 13;

[0033]FIG. 15 is a section on the line XV-XV of FIG. 13;

[0034]FIG. 16 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, of another container andapplicator unit;

[0035]FIG. 17 is detailed view, on an enlarged scale, of FIG. 16;

[0036]FIG. 18 is a sectional view on the line XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 16;and

[0037]FIG. 19 is a sectional view on the line XIX-XIX of FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a first embodiment of an applicator top 1with an applicator 2 for spreading a cosmetic or medical substance, forexample mascara or hair dyes on eyebrows or nail enamel on finger nails.For use, the applicator top 1 is placed on a container (not shown).

[0039] The applicator 2 comprises two applicator tips 3 which areconnected to the applicator top 1 in a manner known per se and embodiedas bunches of fibers of a cross-sectional shape of a stadium. To thisend, the applicator tips 3 are glued or stamped into blind holes 3 awhich are provided in a cross-sectionally oval projection 3 c of theapplicator top 1 that stands out from the base 3 b of the applicator top1. The applicator tips 3 are composed of a multiplicity of individualfibers 4. The surfaces of the applicator tips 3 can be treated or coatedwith an antiadhesive layer, such as Teflon (PTFE).

[0040] The individual fibers 4 stand out from the projection 3 c in aprincipal sense of extension 4 a that is plotted by a dot-dashed line inFIG. 2. In relation to a center line, or axis of symmetry, that isparallel to, or coincides with, the principal sense of extension 4 a,the applicator 2 is dually symmetric by reason of its two applicatortips.

[0041]FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate that the applicator tips 3 are spacedapart where the individual fibers 4 extend from the projection 3 c. Inthis interstice between the two applicator tips 3, provision is made inthe projection 3 c for three parallel passages 5, 6, 7. In relation tothe axis of symmetry 4 a of the applicator 2, the outer passages 5, 7are decentralized. The passages 5, 6, 7 line up side by side in a row,with a line that unites this row running parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the cross-sectional stadiums formed by the applicator tips 3.

[0042] The passages 5, 6, 7 have a round cross-sectional shape,extending in parallel to the principal sense of extension 4 a. When theapplicator top 1 has been placed on the container, they connect theinside of the container to the space between the applicator tips. Wherethe passages 5, 6, 7 discharge in the direction towards the container,two wedge-shaped cutting edges 8 are provided on the applicator top 1,which are integrally united with the base 3 b.

[0043] The applicator top 1, together with the applicator 2 of FIGS. 1to 3, is inserted as follows:

[0044] At first, the applicator top 1 is placed by its base 3 b on thecontainer that is still closed then. The cutting edges 8 pierce acorrespondingly perforated upper wall of the container so that aconnection is created between the interior of the container and thepassage 5 to 7. Afterwards, a cosmetic, for example nail enamel, can beapplied by way of the applicator 2. In this case, the applicator top 1is held in a position for the cosmetic to pass through the passages 5,6, 7 into the interstice between the applicator tips 3. The cosmeticthen spreads uniformly over the entire width of the applicator tips 3.

[0045] Further embodiments of applicator tops with applicators will bedescribed in the following, taken in conjunction with FIGS. 4 to 19.Components that correspond to those already described in conjunctionwith previous designs have the same reference numerals and will not beexplained in detail once again.

[0046] FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate a second embodiment of a container andapplicator unit which differs from the first embodiment by the shape andmaterial of the applicator tips 3. FIG. 6 illustrates that the free endsof the applicator tips 3 are skewed in the shape of a wedge so thattheir maximum length is contiguous to the passages 5, 6, 7.

[0047] In the second embodiment, the applicator tips 3 consist of rubberof a Shore hardness A of 5 with a flock coating of artificial silk. Byalternative, provision may also be made for a flock coating of rayon orpolyamide. It is also conceivable to provide a Shore hardness A in arange between 5 and 100 instead of a Shore hardness of 5. Instead ofrubber, the applicator tips 3 may consist of a thermoplastic elastomerTPE of the same range of Shore hardness or of a PU/PE foam with a porecount of approximately 40 to 100 ppi or of soft PVC. The flock coatingcan be dropped.

[0048] FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate a third embodiment of a container andapplicator unit. Provision is made for only a single applicator tip 3 inthe form of a bunch of fibers, which otherwise corresponds to anindividual applicator tip 3 of the first embodiment. In this thirdembodiment, a single passage 9 replaces the three passages. On the partof the applicator, it mouthes into a wedge-shaped passage section 10 bythe side of the applicator tip 3. The passage section 10 is skewed insuch a way that its maximum length is directly contiguous to theapplicator tip 3. It stands out from the projection 3 c to such anextent that the passage 9 ends at approximately half the length of theindividual fibers 4 of the applicator tip 3. While running through theprojection 3 c and the base 3 b, the passage 9 curves in the shape of anS, discharging centrally into the base 3b between the two cutting edges8. As seen in FIG. 7, the passage 9 has a cross-sectional shape of a Din the vicinity of the passage section 10.

[0049] Upon use of this third embodiment, the substance is at firstdischarged via the passage 9 in the vicinity of the free ends of theindividual fibers 4. This enables the substance to be uniformly spreadon the tips of the individual fibers 4.

[0050] Instead of being composed of individual fibers, the applicatortip 3 may also consist of the materials specified above in conjunctionwith the second embodiment.

[0051] FIGS. 10 to 12 show a fourth embodiment of a container andapplicator unit. In this case, a principal passage 11, which is providedcentrally in the base 3 b and projection 3 c, comprises a passagesection 12 which, by analogy to the passage 9 of the third embodiment,stands out from the projection 3 c and the free end of which iswedge-shaped. In the fourth embodiment, the applicator 2 is placed onthe passage section 12. The surface of the applicator 2 may be treatedor coated with an antiadhesive layer such as Teflon (PTFE).

[0052] The applicator 2 is a sleeve with an end wall 13 of a skewcomplementary to the skewed end of the principal passage 10. The endwall 13 is provided with a plurality of individual passages 14 thatcontinue the principal passage 11 outwards through the end wall 13.Apart from a central individual passage 14 a, the individual passages 14are decentralized in relation to center line 4 a of the applicator 2that coincides with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical jacket ofthe applicator 2.

[0053] In the fourth embodiment, the applicator 2 is fitted by a collar15, on the side of the top, into a corresponding groove of theprojection 3 c. It is composed of one of the materials that have beendescribed above in conjunction with the second embodiment. The number ofindividual passages can vary from two to twenty. In keeping with amodified design of the fourth embodiment, they may be covered by thinplastic membranes which can be removed by a user prior to using thecontainer and applicator unit.

[0054] FIGS. 13 to 15 illustrate a fifth embodiment of a container andapplicator unit. In this case, the principal passage 11 branches into amultiplicity of horizontal individual passages 14 in the form of sidecuts. They are produced in a passage top 16 which, towards theapplicator top 1, is placed by a collar 17 into a corresponding grooveof the projection 3 c.

[0055] The passage top 16 is enveloped by an applicator 2 which is bentin the shape of a U and comprises a U-shaped wire core 18 that isinserted into corresponding blind holes 19 of the projection 3 c; and byradially extending, individual fibers in such a way that the individualpassages 14 discharge in a direction towards the individual fibers 4,this kind of design ensuring uniform application.

[0056] FIGS. 16 to 19 illustrate a sixth embodiment of a container andapplicator unit. In this embodiment, the applicator tip 3 is formed by amultiplicity of hollow fibers 20 instead of solid individual fibers 4,the hollow fibers 20 constituting individual passages that continue theprincipal passage 11. The surfaces of the tips of the hollow fibers canbe treated or coated with an antiadhesive layer, for example Teflon(PTFE). FIG. 17 shows the round cross-sectional shape of the individualhollow fibers 20. By alternative, other cross-sectional shapes of theindividual hollow fibers 20 are conceivable, for instance in the form ofthree capillaries that run in their longitudinal direction and areseparated from each other by corresponding parting walls of plurallyrotationally symmetrical arrangement. Any other number of capillariesper hollow fiber is possible too. The hollow fibers 20 can also have anelliptical cross-sectional shape. Instead of a hollow fiber with aclosed outer wall, provision can be made for an individual fiber ofsheet material that curves in the cross-sectional shape of an S, withthis curvature providing, for the substance that is to be spread, twoparallel passages that are closed, except for a narrow aperture. Theapplicator tip 3 of the sixth embodiment is round, but it can also beflat, rectangular or in the shape of a stadium. Alternatively oradditionally, it can be skewed in the shape of a wedge, as described forexample in connection with the fourth embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container and applicator unit, in particulartest unit, comprising a container for a cosmetic; an applicator top (1)that is placed on the container, having an applicator (2) which standsout therefrom in a principal sense of extension (4 a) and which, atleast by sections, is rotationally or plurally symmetrical in relationto an axis of symmetry and a center line (4 a), respectively, that isparallel to the principal sense of extension (4 a); and at least onepassage (5, 6, 7; 9; 11, 14; 11, 20) that leads from the container tothe applicator (2), wherein the at least one passage (5, 6, 7; 9; 11,14; 11, 20) is decentralized, at least by sections, in relation to theaxis of symmetry and center line (4 a), respectively, of the applicator(2).
 2. A container and applicator unit according to claim 1, wherein aplurality of passages (5, 6, 7) is provided side by side in a row.
 3. Acontainer and applicator unit according to claim 2, wherein theapplicator (2) is formed by a comparatively soft material selected froma group consisting of rubber, a thermoplastic elastomer, each of a Shorehardness A of 5 to
 100. 4. A container and applicator unit according toclaim 2, wherein the applicator (2) is formed by a PU/PE foam of a porecount of approximately 40 to 100 ppi.
 5. A container and applicator unitaccording to claim 2, wherein the applicator (2) is formed by a materialselected from a group consisting of rubber, TPE or PVC with a flockcoating of a material selected from a group consisting of artificialsilk, rayon or polyamide.
 6. A container and applicator unit accordingto claim 1, wherein at least one passage (9) is a supply line whichdischarges by the side of the applicator (2), stands out from theapplicator top (1) and ends in particular in the vicinity of the frontend of the applicator (1).
 7. A container and applicator unit accordingto claim 6, wherein the end of the at least one passage (9) has anoutlet (10) that is skewed towards the applicator (2).
 8. A containerand applicator unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least onepassage (14) mouthes into a tubular interior (11) of the applicator top(1) by an in particular skewed tip (12), with an initially centralpassage, which proceeds from the applicator top (1), then branching intoa plurality of at least partially decentralized passages (14) andmouthing into a plurality of decentralized outlets.
 9. A container andapplicator unit according to claim 8, wherein the outlets are covered bythin membranes (14 a) of a material selected from a group consisting ofplastic material or sealing material, such as hot-melt adhesive, whichare removable when put to use.
 10. A container and applicator unitaccording to claim 8, wherein the applicator (2) comprises a pluralityof hollow fibers (20), which serve as passages and have a plurality ofdecentralized outlets.
 11. A container and applicator unit according toclaim 1, wherein a central passage (11) discharges into a distributionpassage (14) with a plurality of outlets for an applicator (2) in theform of a brush.
 12. A container and applicator unit according to claim11, wherein the outlets (14) are enveloped in the shape of a U by thecore (18) of an applicator brush.
 13. A container and applicator unitaccording to claim 1, wherein the applicator (2) comprises a pluralityof individual fibers (4), with at least the free ends of the individualfibers (4) being treated.
 14. A container and applicator unit accordingto claim 1, wherein the applicator (2) comprises a plurality ofindividual fibers (4), with at least the free ends of the individualfibers (4) being coated.
 15. A container and applicator unit accordingto claim 1, wherein the applicator (2) comprises a plurality ofindividual fibers (4), with at least the free ends of the individualfibers (4) having an antiadhesive layer.
 16. A container and applicatorunit according to claim 1, wherein the antiadhesive layer is Teflon(PTFE).